Flush mounted handle, latch bolt, lock and housing assembly

ABSTRACT

A novel flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly formed of a suitable plastic material such as nylon and comprising a housing conformably received and frictionally retained in an opening in a door, drawer or other closure such as intended for recreational vehicles or the like, and a combined handle and latch bolt, these two components being readily assembled when snapped together and provide a positive and secure assembly. The novel latch bolt has a flexible tab coacting with the housing to provide spring pressure to bias the latch bolt to latching position, and a key-operated locking means in the housing for retaining the latch bolt in locked position.

United States Patent 11 1 Beckman Mal-.19, 1974 [54] FLUSH MOUNTED HANDLE, LATCH BOLT, 2,710,212 6/1955 Larimore 292/128 LOCK AND HOUSING ASSEMBLY 2,197,195 4/1940 Schemers 292/128 [7 5] Inventor: Melvin H. Beckman, Rockford, Ill. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 3 Assigneez Keystone Consolidated Industries 9,146 6/1880 Germany 292/128 lnc., Peoria, 111.

Primary Examiner-John E. Murtagh [22] Flled' 1972 Assistant Examiner-William F. Pate, Ill [21] Appl. No.: 246,432 Attorney, Agent, or FirmMo1inare, Allegretti, Newitt Related US. Application Data & ltcoff [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 209,098, Dec. 17,

1971, abandoned. ABSTRACT A novel flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing [52] US. Cl 292/128, 292/108, 292/228, assembly formed suitable plastic material such 292/DIG' 292/1316 61 nylon and comprising a housing conformably received [51] lift. Cl. E050 and frictionany retained in an p g in a door, [58] held of Search 2 drawer or other closure such as intended for recre- 292/1316" 8 108; 70/84 ational vehicles or the like, and a combined handle 150 and latch bolt, these two components being readily assembled when snapped together and provide a positive [5 6] References cued and secure assembly. The novel latch bolt has a flexi- UN T STATES PATENTS ble tab coacting with the housing to provide spring 2,272,825 2/1942 Anderson 292/ 128 pressure to bias the latch bolt to latching position, and 3,103,115 9/1963 Atkinson 70/71 a key-operated locking means in the housing for re- 618,09l l/1899 Hegel 292/128 mining the latch bolt in locked position. 2.900.204 8/1959 Pelcin 292/DIG. 31 3,100,980 8/1963 l-lumphries 292/128 22 Claims, 28 Drawing Figures Pmmwmasmm 37971870 SHEET 3 [IF 4 FLUSH MOUNTED HANDLE, LATCH BOLT, LOCK AND HOUSING ASSEMBLY The present application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 209,098, filed Dec. 17, 1971, now abandoned.

The present application relates to a novel latch and lock assembly including a housing adapted to be mounted in an opening in a cabinet door, drawer or other closure, and a spring-biased combination handle and latch bolt, both formed or molded of a plastic composition which snap together in a positive and secure assembly.

Another important object of the present construction is the provision of a novel flush mounted latch assembly and locking means designed and constructed primarily for use in recreational vehicles and the like.

A further object of the present assembly is the provision of a novel two-part flush mounted latch assembly comprising a cylindrical housing received and frictionally mounted in a conforming opening in a closure such as a door or front panel of a drawer, and a novel combination handle and latch bolt mounted in the housing, the latch bolt having a flexible tab for spring-biasing the latch bolt to latching engagement for positive latching of the closure.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efficiency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages, and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a fragmentary perspective view of the novel flush mounted latch member or bolt and housing assembled in a cabinet door or closure.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the novel flush mounted latch bolt and housing assembly mounted in a closure or in the front panel of a drawer.

FIG. 3 is a view in side elevation of the assembled latch bolt and housing with the latch bolt in latching position. v

FIG. 4 is a view in vertical cross section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a view, part in side elevation and part in vertical cross section, showing the latch bolt disengaged by the fingers of the operator permitting opening of the closure.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the latch bolt and housing assembly.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the handle and latch bolt disassembled from its housing.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the latch bolt an handle.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the latch bolt and handle.

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the latch housing.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the housing.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section taken on the line 12-12 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but of an alternate embodiment of a latch bolt handle and housing assembly.

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary view showing in side elevation the alternate embodiment of FIG. 13 in latching engagement.

2 FIG. 15 is a view in vertical cross section taken on the line 15-15 .of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a view, part in side elevation and part in vertical cross section, showing the alternate form of latch bolt when disengaged and in unlatched position.

FIG. 17 is a front elevational view of the alternate form of handle and latch bolt.

FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of the handle and latch bolt of FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a top plan view of the latch bolt and handle of FIGS. 17 and 18.

FIG. 20 is a front elevational view of the alternate form of latch bolt housing.

FIG. 21 is a side elevational view of the housing of FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical cross section on the line 2222 of FIG. 20.

FIG. 23 is a view similar to FIG. 22 but with the addition of the alternate form of handle and latch bolt.

FIG. 24 is a front elevational viewof the, novel latch bolt and housing assembly of FIG. 2 provided with a key-operated cylinder lock.

FIG. 25 is a view in side elevation of the assembly of FIG. 24 with the latch bolt retained in latching position by a locking swing bolt or cam.

FIG. 26 is a view in vertical cross section taken on the line 26-26 of FIG. 24.

FIG. 27 is a rear elevational view of the novel assembly of FIG. 26 with the swing bolt or cam in lowered locking position.

FIG. 28 is a view similar to FIG. 27 but with the swing bolt or cam elevated to permit release of the latch bolt.

Referring to the novel illustrative embodiment of the latch bolt handle and housing assembly of FIGS. 1 to 12, inclusive, the assembly includes a flush mounted housing 10 of cylindrical form conformably received and retained in an opening 11 of a cabinet door or closure 12, or adapted tobe mounted in the front panel of a drawer, such as for use in a recreational vehicle or the like although not limited thereto. In the. housing is mounted a latch bolt 13 having a plate-like handle 14 for releasably actuating the latch bolt whereby its hook end or latching projection 15 is readily released from engagement with a strike, latching shoulder or abutment 16 for retaining the door or drawer closed.

The handle 14 covers approximately one-half the from opening 17 of the housing leaving adequatespace for the operator to insert one or more fingers in the open space 18 to grasp the upper edge 19 of the handle 14 (see FIG. 5) and withdraw and pivot the upper edge 19 of the handle about lateral projections 21,21 received in open recesses 20,20 in spaced embossments or shoulders 22,22 on the interior of the housing 10,

and about which the integral combined handle 14 and latch bolt 13 are pivotally mounted.

The rear wall 23 of the housing 10 has a vertical slot 24 aligned with a slot 25 between the embossments or shoulders 22,22 receiving in the slot 25 the forward end 26 of the latch bolt 13 formed integral with the handle M, with the rearwardly projecting portion of the leg 27 of the latch bolt 13 extending through and to the rear of the slot 24 in the rear wall 23 of the housing. The hook end or latching projection 15 of the latch bolt is spring-biased to latching position when the door or drawer is moved to closed position and the hook end engages the shoulder or strike 16, and this end is inclined to facilitate its being elevated when moved toward latching engagement.

To spring-bias the latch bolt 13 to closed position, the bolt is provided with an integral flexible tab 28 abutting the edge 29 of the slot 24 in the rear wall 23 of the housing 10 and as the tab and the bolt 13 are formed of a suitable plastic composition and the tab is flexible, this tab spring-biases the latch bolt to latching engagement about the pivot or projections 21. The tab 28 has a projection 30 on the free end to limit movement thereof.

The housing 10 forming one part and the combined handle and latch bolt 13 with its tab 28 forming the other part of the assembly, are molded or formed of a suitable plastic composition such as nylon with the tab 28 having sufficient inherent resiliency for springbiasing the latch bolt toward latching position, and the housing 10 frictionally retained in the opening 11, the housing having a limiting external flange 29 for locating the housing in the opening of the closure.

In this assembly the components consist of two parts which snap together; namely, the housing-10 and the combined handle and latch bolt consisting of the bandle 14 and latch bolt '13 having the spaced projections 21,21 snapping into the open end of the recesses of the spaced shoulders 22,22.

In the alternate embodiment of FIGS. 13 to 23, inclusive, the housing 31 is similar to.the housing 10 except for the location and mounting of a pin 32 in the shoulders 33,33 about which pin the latch bolt 34 and integral handle 35 are adapted to pivot. The plate-like handle 35 substantially conforms to the handle 14 except for the contour of its upper edge 36, but the latch bolt 34 has a leg 37 with its forward or outer end 38 integral or affixed to the handle 35 whereby the handle and latch bolt pivot about the pin 32 in the slot 39 formed between the shoulders 33,33 in the housing 31, the outer end of the latch bolt having an open recess 40 receiving the pin 32 as shown in FIG. 23.

The latch bolt projects through the slot 41 in the rear wall 42 of the housing 31 and its rear or inner hook end 43 has a forwardly projecting flexible tab 44 maintained in contact with the edge 45 of the slot 41 with the movement of the latch bolt 34 limited by a projection 46 on the free end of the tab, the latter springbiasing the latchbolt toward latching position. In this embodiment the pin 32 is projected through the aligned openings in the spaced shoulders 33,33 with the two component parts; namely, the housing 31 and the combined latch bolt-34 and handle 35, snapped in position with the pin 32 received in the recess 40 adjacent the forward or outer end of the latch bolt 34.

To securely mount and retain either housing 10 or 31 in the opening of a door, closure or in a drawer, the outer circumference of the housing is provided with equally spaced plural tapered ribs 47.

FIGS. 24 to 28, inclusive, disclose the handle, latch bolt and housing assembly of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 13, inclusive, provided with a key-operated cabinet or cylinder lock 48 in which insertion and rotation of the proper key moves a swing bolt or cam 49 to and out of locking position relative to the latch bolt 13. When the swing bolt or cam 49 is rotated andits free end moved downwardly over and in aligned position with the latch bolt 13, the latter is retained against release until the key 50 is inserted and rotated to swing the bolt of its adjusted positions which are 90 apart, the swing bolt or cam is retained locked in either position.

Although the cylinder lock with its swing bolt or cam are shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 13, inclusive, it is clearly evident such may also be embodied in the alternate form of FIGS. 14 to 23, inclusive.

I claim:

1. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing as sembly comprising a housing adapted to be inserted and retained in a conforming opening in a closure, and

a combined handle and latch bolt pivotally mounted in i said housing, said handle being affixed to one end of said latch bolt, the latter having a leg projecting rearwardly through the housing and a slot in the rear wall of the housing with the inner end of the latch bolt having a latching projection for latching engagement, and a flexible tab on said latch bolt for spring-biasing the latch bolt into latching position, said housing comprising a cylindrical member open at the front with a slotted rear wall and internal spaced shoulders providing a slot therebetween aligned with the slot in the rear wall, said handle and latch bolt being integral with the handle extending across approximately one-half the front opening of the housing and defining an open area above the upper edge of the handle for insertion of the fingers and grasping by the operator for releasing the latch bolt, said latch bolt and handle being pivotally mounted at one end between said shoulders, the latch bolt having a leg projecting rearwardly through the slot in the rear wall of said housing with the rear end of the latch bolt having a latching hook, and a flexible tab on said latch bolt abutting an edge of the slot in the rear wall of the housing for spring-biasing the latch bolt toward latching position.

2. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which the housing and the combined handle and latch bolt provide two components each of a plastic composition with these two components snapped into a combined assembly.

3. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which the handle, latch bolt and flexible tab are formed integral.

4. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which the handle spans the lower portion of the opening in'the front of the housing but leaving space thereabove for insertion of one or more fingers and when grasped and pulled outwardly by the operator releases the latch bolt.

5. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing as sembly as set forth in claim 1, in which the flexible tab is integral with the outer end of the latch bolt and projects rearwardly through the slot in the rear wall of the housing where it engages an edge of the slot in said rear wall for spring-biasing the latch bolt toward latching engagement.

6. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing as sembly as set forth in claim 1, in which the flexible tab is integral with and projects forwardly from the latching projection of the latch bolt and through the slot in the rear wall of the housing where it engages an edge of the slot in said rear wall for spring-biasing the latch bolt toward latching engagement.

7. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, including locking means in the housing for retaining the latch bolt in latching position.

8. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, including a key-actuated lock bolt for retaining the latch bolt in latching position.

9. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, including a key-actuated lock bolt rotatable into and out of alignment with said latch bolt and when inalignment with said latch bolt retains the latch bolt in latching engagement.

10. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, including a cylinder lock mounted in the housing and having a swing bolt rotatable into and out of locking position over the latch bolt and when in locking position preventing disen gagement of the latch bolt from its latching position in the housing.

11. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, including a keyactuated lock mounted in the housing and having a locking cam movable into and out of locking position with the latch bolt.

12. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly comprising a housing adapted to be inserted and retained in a conforming opening in a closure, and a combined handle and latch bolt pivotally mounted in said housing, said handle being affixed to one end of said latch bolt, the latter having a leg projecting rearwardly through the housing and a slot in the rear wall of the housing with the inner end of the latch bolt having a latching projection for latching engagement, and a flexible tab on said latch bolt for spring-biasing the latch bolt into latching position, the flexible tab being integral with and projecting forwardly from the latching projection of the latch bolt and through the slot in the rear wall of the housing where it engages an edge of the slot in said rear wall for spring-biasing the latch bolt toward latching engagement.

13. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 12, in which the housing and the combined handle and latch bolt provide two components each of a plastic composition with these two components snapped into a combined assembly.

14. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 13, in which the handle and latch bolt are formed integral.

of one or more fingers and when grasped and pulled outwardly by the operator releases the latch bolt.

17. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 12, in which said housing is a cylindrical member open at the front with a slotted rear wall and internal spaced shoulders providing a slot therebetween aligned with the slot in the rear wall, an integral handle and latch bolt, the handle extending across approximately one-half the front opening of the housing with an open area above the upper edge of the handle for insertion of the fingers and grasping by the operator for releasing the latch bolt, said latch bolt and handle being pivotally mounted at one end between said shoulders, the latch bolt having a leg projecting rearwardly through the slot in the rear wall of said housing with the rear end of the latch bolt having a latching hook, and a flexible tab on said latch bolt abutting an edge of the slot in the rear wall of the housing for spring-biasing the latch bolt toward latching position.

18. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 12 including locking means in the housing for retaining the latch bolt in latching position. i

19. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 12, including a keyactuated lock bolt for retaining the latch bolt in latching position.

20. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 12, including a keyactuated lock bolt rotatable into and out of alignment with said latch bolt and when in alignment with said latch bolt retains the latch bolt in latching engagement.

211. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 12, including a cylinder lock mounted in the housing and having a swing bolt rotatable into and out of locking position over the latch bolt and when in locking position preventing disengagement of the latch bolt from its latching position in the housing.

22. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 12, including a keyactuated lock mounted in the housing and having a locking cam movable into and out of locking position with the latch bolt. 

1. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly comprising a housing adapted to be inserted and retained in a conforming opening in a closure, and a combined handle and latch bolt pivotally mounted in said housing, said handle being affixed to one end of said latch bolt, the latter having a leg projecting rearwardly through the housing and a slot in the rear wall of the housing with the inner end of the latch bolt having a latching projection for latching engagement, and a flexible tab on said latch bolt for spring-biasing the latch bolt into latching position, said housing comprising a cylindrical member open at the front with a slotted rear wall and internal spaced shoulders providing a slot therebetween aligned with the slot in the rear wall, said handle and latch bolt being integral with the handle extending across approximately one-half the front opening of the housing and defining an open area above the upper edge of the handle for insertion of the fingers and grasping by the operator for releasing the latch bolt, said latch bolt and handle being pivotally mounted at one end between said shoulders, the latch bolt having a leg projecting rearwardly through the slot in the rear wall of said housing with the rear end of the latch bolt having a latching hook, and a flexible tab on said latch bolt abutting an edge of the slot in the rear wall of the housing for spring-biasing the latch bolt toward latching position.
 2. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which the housing and the combined handle and latch bolt provide two components each of a plastic composition with these two components snapped into a combined assembly.
 3. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which the handle, latch bolt and flexible tab are formed integral.
 4. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which the handle spans the lower portion of the opening in the front of the housing but leaving space thereabove for insertion of one or more fingers and when grasped and pulled outwardly by the operator releases the latch bolt.
 5. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which the flexible tab is integral with the outer end of the latch bolt and projects rearwardly through the slot in the rear wall of the housing where it engages an edge of the slot in said rear wall for spring-biasing the latch bolt toward latching engagement.
 6. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, in which the flexible tab is integral with and projects forwardly from the latching projection of the latch bolt and through the slot in the rear wall of the housing where it engages an edge of the slot in said rear wall for spring-biasing the latch bolt toward latching engagement.
 7. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, including locking means in the housing for retaining the latch bolt in latching position.
 8. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, including a key-actuated lock bolt for retaining the latch bolt in latching position.
 9. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, including a key-actuated lock bolt rotatable into and out of alignment with said latch bolt and when in alignment with said latch bolt retains the latch bolt in latching engagement.
 10. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, including a cylinder lock mounted in the housing and having a swing bolt rotatable into and out of locking position over the latch bolt and when in locking position preventing disengagement of the latch bolt from its latching position in the housing.
 11. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 1, including a key-actuated lock mounted in the housing and havinG a locking cam movable into and out of locking position with the latch bolt.
 12. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly comprising a housing adapted to be inserted and retained in a conforming opening in a closure, and a combined handle and latch bolt pivotally mounted in said housing, said handle being affixed to one end of said latch bolt, the latter having a leg projecting rearwardly through the housing and a slot in the rear wall of the housing with the inner end of the latch bolt having a latching projection for latching engagement, and a flexible tab on said latch bolt for spring-biasing the latch bolt into latching position, the flexible tab being integral with and projecting forwardly from the latching projection of the latch bolt and through the slot in the rear wall of the housing where it engages an edge of the slot in said rear wall for spring-biasing the latch bolt toward latching engagement.
 13. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 12, in which the housing and the combined handle and latch bolt provide two components each of a plastic composition with these two components snapped into a combined assembly.
 14. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 13, in which the handle and latch bolt are formed integral.
 15. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 12, in which the handle, latch bolt and flexible tab are formed integral.
 16. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 12, in which the handle spans the lower portion of the opening in the front of the housing but leaving space thereabove for insertion of one or more fingers and when grasped and pulled outwardly by the operator releases the latch bolt.
 17. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 12, in which said housing is a cylindrical member open at the front with a slotted rear wall and internal spaced shoulders providing a slot therebetween aligned with the slot in the rear wall, an integral handle and latch bolt, the handle extending across approximately one-half the front opening of the housing with an open area above the upper edge of the handle for insertion of the fingers and grasping by the operator for releasing the latch bolt, said latch bolt and handle being pivotally mounted at one end between said shoulders, the latch bolt having a leg projecting rearwardly through the slot in the rear wall of said housing with the rear end of the latch bolt having a latching hook, and a flexible tab on said latch bolt abutting an edge of the slot in the rear wall of the housing for spring-biasing the latch bolt toward latching position.
 18. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 12 including locking means in the housing for retaining the latch bolt in latching position.
 19. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 12, including a key-actuated lock bolt for retaining the latch bolt in latching position.
 20. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 12, including a key-actuated lock bolt rotatable into and out of alignment with said latch bolt and when in alignment with said latch bolt retains the latch bolt in latching engagement.
 21. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 12, including a cylinder lock mounted in the housing and having a swing bolt rotatable into and out of locking position over the latch bolt and when in locking position preventing disengagement of the latch bolt from its latching position in the housing.
 22. A flush mounted handle, latch bolt and housing assembly as set forth in claim 12, including a key-actuated lock mounted in the housing and having a locking cam movable into and out of locking position with the latch bolt. 